Who We Are

We're Neighbors. Epiphany Lutheran Church is a nurturing, spirit-led congregation located in Denver's Washington Park neighborhood with members from across the metro area. We've been here at Corona and Ohio since 1938. We are a community of believers consisting of seniors, young families, singles and gays with a wide range of life and work experiences.

We're Christians. That term can carry some baggage. Christians are people who encounter God in Jesus and the activity of the Holy Spirit. The Bible is a book of God's people. In that book, we experience again and anew the ways in which God's people have encountered the divine. We believe the living word is not a book, but an encounter with scripture and the Spirit. We view the Bible reverently, seriously, thoughtfully, and critically.

We're Lutherans. Lutherans are Christians who understand the world and the church in the world through a particular way of being together. We believe in the continuing power of grace in our lives. Faith is the living, daring confidence in God's grace. Without going into a history of the 16th century Reformation, Lutherans are held by the experience that God's grace always comes to us freely -- received just as we are and who we are. All are welcome.

We view humanity and all creation as beautiful, complex, broken,
and beloved. Jesus is the one in whom we encounter God's goodness filling
humanity. We think this is truly liberating: you don't have to "get saved"
by making a choice or invitation to God. You don't have to be "good enough". God
loves you and grace calls you to respond to that love.

A key to Lutheran's experience of God is through the cross. Martin Luther called this the "theology of the cross"; and it reveals God as one who meets us in our weakness and vulnerability. God is both all-powerful as well as approachable and understanding.

We're the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). There are about 4.8 million ELCA Lutherans in over 10,000 congregations in the U.S. and the Caribbean, and over 66 million around the globe who work together in the Lutheran World Federation and in full communion partnership with several other denominations.

A note about the word Evangelical: The word simply means "good news." It's what Lutherans called themselves in Europe, and usually still do. The word has taken on different meanings in the US for different groups. We think it means encountering God should be good news. Period.

We're a Reconciling in Christ (RIC) congregation. That means that our statement of welcome includes and affirms people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. We're learning together what it means to be fully inclusive and affirming. We're on record: We believe God loves all people. RIC congregations are affiliated with Reconciling Works.

We are the church. Just because we are Lutherans and Christians, we are not isolated. Anytime a few gather together in Jesus' name, you have the church. The universal church is of all times and places, gathering as the Body of Christ that transcends culture, time and space.

We don't have all the answers. There, it's out in the open. We don't tell people what to do or how to think. Together, we encounter the living God in Jesus. And when we do that, around simple stuff like scripture, water, bread, and wine, God works through the gathering. We discover what we were born to do: Love God and love our neighbors. Sometimes we get comforted by what we find. Sometimes we get challenged by it.

We Invite You! The best way to experience this kind of faith community is to spend time with us.

Here's a link to a site with some more reflection on all this: It's good stuff. And of course, the best way to experience this kind of faith community is to spend some time with us. www.sharingfaith.org

ELCA Daily News

In light
of the decision by the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus to sever its
relationship with the ELCA and other churches, pray for the global ecumenical
movement and for a healthy dialogue among the varied Christian traditions around
the world.

ELCA Prayer Ventures

Teach us to believe that by your grace
all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be
well...

We're affiliated with the ELCA.
The ELCA is the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America. It's a family of faith that emerged through a LOT of mergers of
smaller families of faith all over the US and Caribbean. There are millions of
Lutherans all over the world. There are about 4.8 million ELCA Lutherans in over
10,000 congregations in the US, and over 66 million around the globe who work
together in the Lutheran World
Federation.

We're affiliated with Lutherans
Concerned/North America. We're a Reconciling in Christ congregation of LCNA. That
means our statement of welcome includes and affirms people of all sexual
orientations and gender identities. This is kind of a hot-button topic for
churches right now. We're learning together what it means to be fully inclusive
and affirming. We're on the record: We think God loves ALL
people.